Patent GB-652149-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to control units, particularly for internal combustion engine installations
Inventor: WALKER EDWARD BOWKER
IPC: B63H21/22
Filed: 1948-12-22
Abstract: 652,149. Reverse-gear control; locking levers: TRANSPORT EQUIPMENT (THORNYCROFT), Ltd. Dec. 22, 1948, No. 33046. [Classes 80(ii) and 80(iii)] A control unit wherein a single control lever 7 operates two follower elements such as a marine reverse-gear lever la and a coaxial engine-throttle operating-lever 2a, comprises. an automatic clutch for locking the control lever 7 to one element, the reverse-lever 1a, over a central range of movement to predetermined operative positions A, B, (e.g. selecting forward and reverse), and to the other element, the throttle-lever 2a, over ranges of movement in both directions beyond said predetermined positions, either element being freed from the lever whilst the other is locked thereto. The clutch comprises balls 9, tongues or rollers, selectively locking a central disc 6, secured to an axially slidable sleeve fast with the control-lever 7, to freely-mounted discs arranged on either side, one disc, 1, fast to the reverse-lever 1a, the other, 2, fast to the throttle-lever 2a. One clutch-ball 9 is carried in a recess in each face of the centre disc 6 which latter is pressed axially by a spring 6c so that one ball 9 enters a single recess in the adjacent face of the reverse-lever disc 1, thus locking the reverse-lever 1a to the control lever 7. Movement of the latter beyond the forward and reverse positions in either direction causes a pin 8, in the reverse-disc 1, to ride up one or other of two fixed abutments 3c, thrusting the operative clutch-ball 9 out of its recess in the disc 1, freeing the latter from the disc 6 and thrusting the disc 6 axially against its spring 6c until the other clutch-ball 9 enters a now registering one of two recesses 2b in the throttle-lever disc 2 which is thus locked to the controllever during its further movement, whilst the reverse-lever remains detained by the abutment 3c. Movement of the throttlelever 2a in either direction from its central pick-up position, operates the main throttlelever 10 always in the same direction through a link 11 and springs 12, which permit independent operation of the lever 10. The throttle-lever 2a is locked in the central position during reversing-movement by a pin 2d carried by the lever 2a and thrust axially into a recess 13a in the fixed casing by a cam 7a on the control lever 7. A spring- pressed pad 2e on the throttle lever 2a bears axially on the fixed casing to provide throttle-friction, and the spring 6c may be replaced by another positive pin such as 8. In Figs. 5 and 6, (not shown), the centre disc 6 directly carries the control lever 7 and is fast on the inner shaft, selective clutching being effected by a cone-ended drift-pin axially slidable in the disc 6 and clutching alternately in recesses in the throttle- and reverse-lever discs. The control-lever projects through a slot in the fixed cylindrical housing, closed by a band secured to the lever and having a tightening screw to provide variable friction on the casing. Specification 628.296 is referred to.